22. But I held back my anger. I acted for the sake of my name. Then my name would not be dishonored with the nations watching. As the nations watched, I had brought the Israelites out from Egypt.
23. Also in the desert I had to make a promise to the Israelites. I had to promise to scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries.
24. This is because they did not obey my laws. They had rejected my rules and dishonored my Sabbaths. And they worshiped the idols of their ancestors.
25. I also allowed them to follow rules that were not good. And they followed laws by which they could not live.
26. I let the Israelites make themselves unclean by the gifts they brought to their false gods. They sacrificed their oldest children in the fire. This is how I shocked them so they would know that I am the Lord.’
27. “So, human being, speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Your ancestors spoke against me by being unfaithful to me in this way:
28. I had brought them into the land I promised to give them. They saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to false gods. They brought offerings that made me angry. There, also, they burned their incense. There they poured out their drink offerings.
29. Then I said to them: What is this place where you go to worship false gods?’” (It is still called High Place today.)
30. “So say to the people of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Will you make yourselves unclean as your ancestors did? Will you be unfaithful and desire their hated idols?
31. You offer your children as gifts to the false gods. You sacrifice them in the fire. You make yourselves unclean with all your idols even today. So, people of Israel, should I let you ask me questions? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not accept questions from you.
32. “‘What you want will not come true. You say, “We want to be like the other nations and the people in other lands. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone.”
33. As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will rule you. I will rule you with my great power and strength and anger.
34. I will bring you out from the foreign nations. I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered. I will do this with my great power and strength and anger.
35. I will bring you among the nations as I brought your ancestors into the desert with Moses. There I will judge you face to face.
36. I will judge you the same way I judged your ancestors. That was in the desert of the land of Egypt. So I will judge you, says the Lord God.
37. I will take control of you. I will punish you by my agreement.
38. I will get rid of those who refuse to obey me and who turn against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living. But they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39. “‘This is what the Lord God says: People of Israel, go serve your idols for now. But later you will listen to me. You will not continue to dishonor my holy name with your gifts and false gods.
40. My holy mountain is the high mountain of Israel. There all Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will look for your offerings. I will look for the first harvest of your offerings and all your holy gifts.
41. I will accept you like a pleasing smell. This will happen when I bring you out from the foreign nations. It will take place when I gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will show how holy I am. The nations will see it.
42. When I bring you into the land of Israel, you will know that I am the Lord. I will bring you into the land I promised your ancestors.